SHIRLEY — Gallery Sitka, a woman-owned art gallery with locations in Newport, RI, Saratoga, NY, and Shirley, MA, has announced an upcoming exhibition featuring the work of contemporary Maine-based artist Lora Whelan.
Titled “Ocean Land Lines,” this abstract art exhibit explores the power of nature, drawing inspiration from the winter storms that swept through Eastport, Maine, in 2023 and 2024.
“Downeast Maine saw a series of winter storms during 2023/24 which created a collision of wind, water, and land. It seemed that the wind never stopped, that it would blow from one way then come around in what seemed a lull, and then blow from the other way. The ocean storm surges were overwhelming at times and magnificent in their power,” Whelan said.
Whelan, a self-taught artist with a Bachelor’s degree from Bennington College and a Master of Science from Mercy College, explained how she captured the feeling of struggling to maintain order amidst nature’s chaos during the winter storms in how she created the pieces in her collection, including, “Tidal Mist,” “Storm Surge” and “Tidal Moonlight.”
“I started with a large piece of unstretched canvas on the floor, poured water on it and then started moving paint around with the palette knife,” Whelan said. “It was a particularly powerful way to start this series as paint can be unruly as it meets water. I felt like I was in the midst of one of those storms, trying to hold on to order while the water took control.”
A free opening reception for “Ocean Land Lines” will take place on Saturday, August 10, 2024, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Gallery Sitka which is located at 2 Shaker Road, D101, in Shirley. The show runs through August 31.
